The grants will be equivalent to the business’ 2019 rates demand, with a minimum payment of €2,000 and a maximum payment of €10,000.

Speaking of the fund John Magee, acting director of services at Mayo County Council, said: “This Restart Fund is an important source of financial support to the many small businesses throughout Mayo affected by Covid-19.

“Businesses are under huge cashflow pressure to meet the costs of re-opening and this support can help with costs related to health and safety measures for staff and customers, insurance, buying stock or re-employing staff.

“Mayo County Council is on-hand to process applications and to help businesses to get back up and trading as we begin to re-build our local economy.”

The cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council, Councillor Brendan Mulroy, has welcomed the fund.

He stated: “It will give Mayo businesses a helping hand to open their doors again after a hugely difficult time for many small businesses.

“I encourage owners of small business to apply for the support and to liaise with their local council rates collectors if they have any queries.

"I also call on people to continue to support their small local businesses at this time.”

The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Michael Ring, is encouraging micro enterprises and small businesses in Mayo to apply the grant.

Minister Ring said: “This scheme, announced by the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys, will provide much needed direct grant aid to micro and small businesses in Mayo to help them get going again as the country re-opens.

“The grants available range between €2,000 and €10,000 and can be used to help with the costs associated with reopening and reemploying workers following Covid-19 closures.

“The grant is available to eligible businesses who have stayed open throughout the crisis, as well as those who are reopening under Phase 1 (from 18 May) and Phase 2 (8 June) of the government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business.

“I applaud all the small businesses in Mayo who have kept going in some way throughout the pandemic, and I want to reassure those who have had to close that we are doing everything to support them to reopen.

"Small businesses are the lifeblood of the local economy here in Mayo and they will be crucial to Ireland’s economic recovery.

“This grant support is part of a wider package of supports for firms of all sizes worth a total of €12 billion nationally.

"These include the wage subsidy scheme, grants, low-cost loans, write-off of commercial rates and deferred tax liabilities, all of which will help to improve cashflow amongst our SMEs and have helped to keep many going throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Minister Ring continued: “While all the information you need should be available on the online application form, if you have any further queries about the application you can contact the Business Support Unit in the council.

“The Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation has also established a Business Support Call Centre for information on the supports available to businesses and enterprises affected by Covid-19."

It can be reached at infobusinesssupport@dbei.gov.ie or (01) 631 2002.”